Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-01-08
THE NATIONAL MUSEUM.
to Future as Outlined nv Prof. R.ird

ADDITIONAL SPACE NREpEp-AN UNENFECTED
DEVELOPMENT DURING THE FAST yR.R-A CHAIN
OF MUSEUM BUILDINGs-NusEUNs OF srEcIALrIEs.
ETC.
Prot. Spencer F. Baird secretary OF the Smith,
sonian Institution in his report TO the board Of ne
gents or The institution FOR the year 1856 speaks
Vi the satisfactory progress made in arranging the
cetiections OF the National Museum according 20
the provisional plan OF installation. .'From this
Time forward however," the professor says. at
VIII be impossible 10 develop the collections salts
lactorily without additional space. The labor
ator1es and workshops are entirely Inadequate for
the storage OF the unexhibited collections and the
accommodation OF the preparators and mechanics,
ana the exhibition halls do not afford suitable
opportunity for the display OF the materials
already In order for public examination. Each
Sonection, and above all each department., should
nave hall OF its own, more or less completely
Isolated from those which adIoin Il. When several
coliectlonS are placed side by side in the same de-
psr,ment much is lost in respect TO effect and con-
tsniehre or study, not to mention the
sun greater disadvantage OF over crowded space.
AS soon as Congress shall see nj to provide an
olher museum building, the collections being now
~ completely under control, and the force ol cura-
lots assistants and perpetrators so well organized
ana 50 thoroughly prepared for the task, within
elsnte9n months. or at the most two wears. space
twice as large as that now occupied can be fined
Win cases Of specimens thoroughly mounted for
The development OF the museum during the past
wear mas been Unexpectedly great, as may be
judged from the fact that about fifteen hundred
separate lots of specimens have been received. A
certain proportion OF these were obtained from
government expeditions and surveys and material
ol perhaps equal value through exchange, but 10y
iar the largest part OF the Increase both in guam
Il,y and value, has been in the form OF gifts.
THE FUTURE OF TUE MUsEUs
N Is perhaps too early In the history OF the
museum TO take into consideration the question
OF the extent and nature OF its future develop
ment. Such institutions are most successful and
Useful when the result OF natural processes OF
growth. We may profit to a certain extent 10y the
experience OF other nations, but the National
museum OF the United States will or necessity
nave features peculiar to Itself developed In re-
Spouse 10 the peculiar needs OF the people OF this
continent. II should be remembered that the na-
nation are divided into several groups. each under
separate administration, though often under the
general control OF some central authority. In
France, for instance, most OF the museums are
under the ministry OF pubic instruction,
ana In England, to less extent, un-
DER the department of science and art.
In London, In Paris, in Berlin and In Vienna the
puonc collectlons are scattered through various
parts OF the city, in museums with distinctive
ana by no means always harmonious with each
other. Much OF the work which should property
oe done by these museums Is omitted. because
none OF them have seen nj TO undertake II, and on
the other hand, much work, Is duplicated, which
Is perhaps equally unfortunate, collections OF SIM
liar scope and purpose being maintained in differ
Iectons TO such division OF effort Is that much of
the value OF large collections in any department is
lost by failure TO concentrate them where they
may be studied and compared side by SIDE. Ia
Washington the national collections are ali, with
out exception, concentrated in one set OF build
tngS. The Army Medical museum Will soon oc-
cupy building side by side with those under the
control OF the Smithsonian Institution and this
proximity and the long established policy OF CO.
operation between the two Institutions win rem
der them, Tor all practical purposes, united.
CHAIN OF MUSEUM BUILDINGS.
II is possible that, In the future, museums OF
specialities, occupying buildings or their own,
may grow up under the control OF other executive
departments OF the government. but it is hot
likely that they will be very remote from the chain
OF museum buildings already in process OF forma-
ton, and a harmonious system OF cooperation
Will doubtless always be practicable. Ia the
mean time the Smithsonian Institution. as the
legal custodian OF government collections should
Serylcedble for the development in Washington Of
one OF the greatest museums In the world. IL VIII
be neither practicable nor desirable TO gather to-
Setner In Washington collections OF ancient and
medieval art. Sucn as those which adOrn the capi-
talS oI Europe out representative series ol SUCH
objects Will undoubtedly grow up which shall be
sufficiently large and well selected TO enable
Americans to understand these SUBJECTS in gem
eral way, TO educate the pubic taste and To pro-
mote, so lar as possible, the study OF the element ;
OF art and the history OF CIVILIZATION as well 10
forward the growth VI the arts Ut design. 1his
having been accomplished, large part oi the at
tension Of the museum would naturally pe directed
history OF America, and at The seine time its
natural resources TO the preservation or memorials
OF Its aboriginal Inhabitants and the exposition OF
the arts ana Industries or America.